"Let us hope that neither does she," Sabriel says, forcing a smile, which slips almost as soon as she looks back at her son.

"Sam... I know this is a small place, but please stay as far from her as you can. I am sure you can recognise the sense of her by now. She is not something you should have to fight."

Never mind that she faced Kerrigor when she was only a little older than Sameth, and less educated, in some ways. Blodwen Rowlands is different, and Sam is... young. In more than one way.